Rainy Day Boredom Busters

Is the rain spoiling all the fun during your stay on Florida’s Forgotten Coast? Fret no longer, we have some rainy day activities to keep you exploring and enjoying your spring break vacation.

1. Explore Florida’s Forgotten Coast Museums

The Apalachicola Maritime Museum is a great place to start your adventure. You will learn the history of the three rivers that meet together to form the largest river in Florida, the Apalachicola River. You may even get to see the museum’s latest project, the restoration of the paddle wheel riverboat. The project is part of the museums efforts to preserve the history of Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint River Basin.

Pack a picnic lunch and take a trip over the scenic John Gorrie Memorial Bridge to Eastpoint, Florida and travel up Highway 65 to the Fort Gadsden Historic Site. Located about 45 minutes from Eastpoint on the east bank of the Apalachicola River, the fort features a small museum building with a diorama of the fort that interprets the role of the Native and African Americans in the 1800s. With views of the Apalachicola River, and picnic shelter with tables, it makes for the perfect rainy day adventure.

If you take the Big Bend Scenic Byway to Carrabelle, Florida, a great place to visit is the Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum. The museum will be reopening in their new location on Highway 98 across from Carrabelle Beach in April. The camp was established in 1942 as a training facility for men and women during WWII. The museum is dedicated as a tribute to the men and women who trained there. You’ll learn the extensive history of the units who trained there, as well as get to explore all of the artifacts, equipment and souvenirs that veterans have brought back from overseas.

For a list of all museums on Florida’s Forgotten Coast click here.

2. Climb the Cape St. George & Crooked River Lighthouses

If you’re staying on St. George Island, then this will only be a short trek to a fun rainy day adventure. Located in the center of St. George Island, the Cape St. George Lighthouse was built as a replica of the historic lighthouse built on Little St. George in 1833. You can climb the 92 stairs up to the top for a bird’s eye view of the beautiful pristine beaches, Gulf of Mexico, Apalachicola Bay and St. George Sound. If you take a short trip on the Big Bend Scenic Byway to Carrabelle, then the Crooked River Lighthouse with its 132 stairs would be fun to climb. Explore and learn from the museum and even purchase a souvenir to keep as a reminder of your fun adventures on Florida’s Forgotten Coast.

3. Visit the Nature Center
   

Located on Island Drive in Eastpoint right before the St. George Island bridge is the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Nature Center, available for exploration Tuesday through Saturday, 9-4 with free admission. Explore the three large tanks representing the river, bay and gulf habitats and all the creatures and plant life that the habitats are home to. You’ll also learn about the oyster industry and the importance it has in our community.

4. Tour Historic Apalachicola

Historic Apalachicola has so much to see and do. If you stop by the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce you can grab a map that will take you on a tour of all the old historic homes and buildings in Apalachicola. The map will take you to the old cotton warehouses, where cotton was exported in the 1800s, and the sponge exchange. You’ll also get to see the many beautiful antebellum homes in the downtown historic district. Stroll downtown and visit the unique shops and have some delicious locally sourced seafood at one of our local restaurants while you’re on tour.

5. Relax!

There’s plenty of time to explore! Take a break from the hustle and bustle and just enjoy listening to the rain tapping on the roof. Some good relaxing activities might be playing a board game with your loved ones, putting a puzzle together or reading a good book. Whatever your plans may be during your stay on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, remember to take some time to just sit back and relax!